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Not finished with the Covid-19 pandemic, now a virus called norovirus is currently being discussed by the public, especially in China. According to information from the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), they claimed to have long detected the norovirus, which is currently said to be an Extraordinary Event (KLB) in China, in addition to the Covid-19 virus.
“If norovirus is actually a virus that has been around for a long time, it is different from Covid-19. “Covid-19 is a new type of virus, while Norovirus is an old virus and the symptoms are like diarrhea,” said Director of the Directorate of Prevention and Control of Direct Contagious Diseases (P2PML) of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, as quoted by CNN Indonesia, Thursday (22/10 / 2020).
Siti Nadia then explained that the characteristics of the virus generally enter the human body through contaminated water or food. So that not infrequently ordinary people call it food poisoning.
“Norovirus is caused due to hygiene factors, not boiled water, like that, so there is no need to worry too much because immunity can also decrease, which is important but still maintaining cleanliness,” said Siti Nadia.
It was previously known that a study conducted by Juniastuti and colleagues published in the Journal of Medical Virology in May reported that 15.4 percent of 91 samples in hospitals in Jambi City contained norovirus.
Siti Nadia said that the research reference conducted by Juniastuti et al. Was not the first finding of norovirus to occur in Indonesia. The proof, in 2009 research related to norovirus has been conducted in Surabaya with the object of research on children. And in 2010 a study was also conducted in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) on the linkage of diarrhea with norovirus.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic we did not have reports of cases of an extraordinary increase in diarrhea, so it was not too significant,” said Siti Nadia.
Siti Nadia revealed that there were three kinds of research results on the characteristics of this virus. The first, namely people whose feces contain norovirus but do not cause diarrhea symptoms, or who can be called virus carriers. Then the second, the group that indicates mild symptoms. And the third, namely the group who feels severe symptoms.
In responding to this norovirus, the Ministry of Health is focused on continuing to carry out monitoring through the data collection system for diarrhea sufferers in Indonesia. He even appealed to the public not to panic when they hear about the norovirus case in China.
Because, one of the best ways to anticipate this norovirus is to maintain a clean lifestyle such as washing hands. This is like the one used to prevent the Covid-19 virus. What’s more, some cases of diarrhea can have the potential to cause death.
“Diarrhea tends to be the case a lot of people are dehydrated. And, dehydration can cause death, especially children, “he explained.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Public Health Expert, Hermawan Saputra, said that in relation to epidemiological control, the role of the Health Service (Dinkes) and the Ministry of Health is still considered needed in the prevention of this norovirus. The reason is, the characteristics of this virus are more inclined to hygiene. For that, he asked the health offices in each region to make anticipatory measures.
“The health office must coordinate with places to eat or restaurants in the area to maintain hygiene. We have to ensure that the storage method is correct until serving, so that things such as poisoning are immediately dealt with, “said Hermawan when contacted. CNNIndonesia.com, Wednesday (21/10).
Hermawan assessed that the Health Office must also be responsive in investigating the substance of food in addition to conducting more massive examinations. In line with Siti Nadia, Hermawan also appealed to the public not to panic or worry too much, although they still have to be vigilant.
“If there are symptoms of nausea and discomfort in the stomach, check it immediately. And it is in line with the Covid-19 health protocol campaign, even though the mode of transmission is different from Covid-19, “he concluded.
Previously reported, that recently China was rocked by a norovirus attack in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic that has not subsided. On Wednesday (7/10/2020), the disease control authority in China revealed that more than 70 students at universities in northern China’s Shanxi Province were exposed to the norovirus.
Information obtained from the Shanxi University of Finance and Economics in Taiyuan, China said that the student showed symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever due to norovirus.
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